Jeremiah 29:26
The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada, to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD, responsible for any madman who acts like a prophet--you must put him in stocks and neck irons.
The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada
This phrase indicates a divine appointment, suggesting that the priesthood is not merely a human institution but one ordained by God. The mention of Jehoiada, a notable priest during the reign of King Joash, evokes a historical context where priests played crucial roles in guiding the kings and the people. Jehoiada was known for his faithfulness and leadership, which implies that the new appointee is expected to uphold similar standards. This transition of priestly authority reflects the ongoing need for spiritual leadership in Israel, a theme consistent throughout the Old Testament.

to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD
The role of "chief officer" in the temple signifies a position of significant authority and responsibility. The temple, as the central place of worship, required strict oversight to maintain purity and order. This position would involve managing temple activities, ensuring proper worship practices, and safeguarding the sanctity of the temple. The house of the LORD, or the temple, is a symbol of God's presence among His people, and the chief officer's role is crucial in maintaining this sacred space.

responsible for any madman who acts like a prophet
This phrase addresses the issue of false prophets, a recurring problem in Israel's history. The term "madman" suggests someone who is not genuinely inspired by God but claims prophetic authority. The responsibility to discern true prophecy from falsehood is critical, as false prophets could lead the people astray. This task requires wisdom and discernment, qualities that are emphasized in other scriptures, such as in the warnings against false prophets in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 and the New Testament's exhortations to test the spirits (1 John 4:1).

you must put him in stocks and neck irons
The use of stocks and neck irons indicates a form of punishment and public humiliation for those who falsely claim prophetic authority. This reflects the seriousness with which false prophecy was regarded, as it could undermine the community's faith and lead to idolatry or rebellion against God. Such measures were intended to protect the community from spiritual deception and maintain the integrity of true prophetic messages. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of God's judgment against falsehood and the protection of His truth, as seen in the actions against false prophets throughout the scriptures.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who appoints leaders and gives instructions.

2. Priest
A religious leader in Israel, responsible for maintaining the spiritual and ceremonial order.

3. Jehoiada
A former priest whose position is being replaced, indicating a change in leadership.

4. House of the LORD
The temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship and religious authority.

5. Madman/Prophet
Refers to those who falsely claim prophetic authority, causing disorder.
Teaching Points
Authority and Responsibility
God appoints leaders with specific roles and responsibilities. We must respect and uphold the authority given by God, ensuring that spiritual order is maintained.

Discernment in Leadership
Leaders must discern between true and false prophets. This requires wisdom and a deep understanding of God's word to protect the community from deception.

Maintaining Spiritual Order
The temple, or house of worship, must be a place of order and reverence. We should strive to maintain a respectful and orderly environment in our places of worship.

Dealing with False Teachings
Just as the priest was instructed to deal with false prophets, we must address false teachings in our communities, ensuring that truth prevails.

Role of Correction
Correction is a necessary part of spiritual leadership. It should be done with love and a desire to restore, not merely to punish.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of the priest in Jeremiah 29:26 compare to the role of spiritual leaders in the New Testament?

2. What are some modern-day examples of "madmen" or false prophets, and how can we discern their influence in our lives?

3. In what ways can we ensure that our places of worship remain true to their purpose as the "house of the LORD"?

4. How can we apply the principle of correction in our personal lives and communities while maintaining a spirit of love and restoration?

5. Reflect on a time when you had to discern between truth and falsehood. How did Scripture guide you in that situation?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Samuel 10:10-12
Discusses the behavior of prophets and how they were sometimes perceived as madmen, providing context for the term used in Jeremiah.

2 Chronicles 24:15-22
Details the life and influence of Jehoiada, offering background on the priestly role and its significance.

Acts 16:16-24
Illustrates how Paul and Silas were imprisoned for their prophetic actions, drawing a parallel to the treatment of prophets in Jeremiah's time.

Matthew 21:12-13
Jesus cleanses the temple, emphasizing the importance of maintaining order and true worship in the house of the LORD.
The Punishment of False ProphetsA.F. Muir Jeremiah 29:20-32
People
Ahab, Anathoth, David, Elasah, Eleasah, Gemariah, Hilkiah, Jeconiah, Jehoiada, Jeremiah, Kolaiah, Maaseiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar, Shaphan, Shemaiah, Zedekiah, Zephaniah
Places
Anathoth, Babylon, Jerusalem, Nehelam
Topics
Acting, Acts, Appointed, Chains, Charge, Collar, Hast, Inspectors, Instead, Iron, Jehoiada, Jehoi'ada, Mad, Madman, Makes, Maketh, Making, Neck-irons, Officers, Overseer, Priest, Prison, Prophesies, Prophet, Self-made, Shackles, Shouldest, Stead, Stocks, Torture
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 29:25-28

     5401   madness

Library
Finding God
Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.' (Jeremiah xxix. 13.) The words of Jeremiah in their relation to God are very appropriate for men and women in whose hearts there is any longing after personal Holiness. Look at them: 'Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart'. I like this word, because it turns our minds to the true and only source of light and life and power. We speak of seeking and getting the blessing; but,
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and Service

The Secret of Effectual Prayer
"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye have received them, and ye shall have them."--MARK xi. 24. Here we have a summary of the teaching of our Lord Jesus on prayer. Nothing will so much help to convince us of the sin of our remissness in prayer, to discover its causes, and to give us courage to expect entire deliverance, as the careful study and then the believing acceptance of that teaching. The more heartily we enter into the mind of our blessed Lord, and set ourselves simply
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

The Spirit of Prayer.
Text.--Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will of God.--Romans viii. 26, 27. My last lecture but one was on the subject of Effectual Prayer; in which I observed that one of the most important attributes of effectual
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

The Costliness of Prayer
"Lord, teach us to pray."--Luke xi. 1. "And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart."--Jer. xxix. 13. IN his fine book on Benefits, Seneca says that nothing is so costly to us as that is which we purchase by prayer. When we come on that hard-to-be-understood saying of his for the first time, we set it down as another of the well-known paradoxes of the Stoics. For He who is far more to us than all the Stoics taken together has said to us on the subject of prayer,--"Ask,
Alexander Whyte—Lord Teach Us To Pray

Putting God to Work
"For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God beside thee who worketh for him that waiteth for him."--Isaiah 64:4. The assertion voiced in the title given this chapter is but another way of declaring that God has of His own motion placed Himself under the law of prayer, and has obligated Himself to answer the prayers of men. He has ordained prayer as a means whereby He will do things through men as they pray, which He would not otherwise do. Prayer
Edward M. Bounds—The Weapon of Prayer

The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration:
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9

The Seventh Commandment
Thou shalt not commit adultery.' Exod 20: 14. God is a pure, holy spirit, and has an infinite antipathy against all uncleanness. In this commandment he has entered his caution against it; non moechaberis, Thou shalt not commit adultery.' The sum of this commandment is, The preservations of corporal purity. We must take heed of running on the rock of uncleanness, and so making shipwreck of our chastity. In this commandment there is something tacitly implied, and something expressly forbidden. 1. The
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
OR, A DISCOURSE TOUCHING PRAYER; WHEREIN IS BRIEFLY DISCOVERED, 1. WHAT PRAYER IS. 2. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT. 3. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO. WRITTEN IN PRISON, 1662. PUBLISHED, 1663. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:--the Spirit--helpeth our infirmities" (Rom 8:26). ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. There is no subject of more solemn importance to human happiness than prayer. It is the only medium of intercourse with heaven. "It is
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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